South Africa's highest court ruled in favor of gay marriage Thursday, a landmark decision that clears the way for the country to become the first to legalize same-sex unions on a continent where homosexuality remains largely taboo. The decision does not take immediate effect, however. The Constitutional Court, which decided it is unconstitutional to prohibit gays from marrying, gave Parliament a year to make the necessary legal changes. That disappointed gay rights activists. Canada, the Netherlands, Belgium and Spain are the only nations that now allow gay marriage nationwide. Source: Associated Press, chron.com. For more information, please click here (last visited December 3, 2005, reo).